127: The Belief That Could Be Killing Your Design Business
127: The Belief That Could Be Killing Your Design Business
with Michele Williams
Today on the podcast, we are going to talk about the saying, “You Are Enough”. Just to be clear, I think that is a lie stated like that. And it is a lie that keeps us down, trapped, feeling less than and encouraging the imposter syndrome to grow larger in our minds. Listen in as I tell you why I believe this to be a lie, and I balance it with some truth.
Topics Mentioned:
Need
Team
Accountability
Community
Listen to the Episode
You are enough. You probably see this on everything around you. Shirts, coffee mugs, memes. And while it might be comforting in the moment to believe this or take it for truth, if we really think about it, we know it doesn’t resonate as truth. When I think about the word enough, I think about not needing anything. Having all I need to meet all demands or expectations. And come on – no one person is enough. Because this saying isn’t even clear. You are enough. Enough of what?
If I were enough, then that would mean that I don’t need anyone or anything. And I do – and so do you. If we have learned anything in 2020, it is that we need each other. We need to work together. We were meant to be in community.
And this is true in our business as well. There is no way that I can grow or scale a company if I believe that I am enough. Just thinking that would prevent me from reaching out to ask for help. Because that would be a sign of weakness, and it would be admitting that I am not enough. This idea of enough all on my own keeps me trapped and limited in my thinking and in my execution of ideas and tasks.
See, if I am enough, then whose fault is it that I can’t get everything done alone? Who is responsible for the fact that I don’t understand a concept or that I can’t answer the question on my own? We know intellectually that we are not enough all by ourselves to do all that we need to do. We need people, we need resources, we need help.
When I first started my business, I was doing everything. Maybe like some of you did when you started – or even as some of you are right now. I created the product, I managed the sale, I installed the product, I did the billing, I did the bookkeeping, I did the accounting and the tax filing, and then I did the marketing. I did it all. And at first, it was exciting, and it was manageable. And then it quickly wasn’t. I am so thankful that the lie of me being enough was not prevalent 21 years ago when I started. Because if it was, I would most likely have crumpled at the weight of that phrase. Because I sure did not feel like enough.
I felt like my world was teetering on the edge. The running joke was that I was spinning too many plates, and the hope was that if one fell, it would be paper or plastic. Because I was not enough for all the demands on my time and energy.
My husband found me crying one day after work and asked what was wrong. I quickly unloaded on him that I could not do it all. That too much of the best work was coming in. I was getting what I wanted, and I was miserable because I just could not do all the things. I cried that I was a terrible business owner and terrible at home with the kids. Never caught up and never on top of things. Always running to meet the demands – and I could not run anymore.
Perhaps some of you have felt this way or been in a similar situation. I get it. I know many others feel this way, too, because some of my clients have described similar situations. Some may call it being on a hamster wheel. One described it as going down a rushing river and being thrown by the rapids, going underwater and coming up downstream. Nothing steady to grab onto, so the rush kept going. I told her there was a waterfall in her future – and we needed to get her a life preserver.
Recognizing that I was not enough to solve everything at one time created freedom for me. Freedom that I did not have to do it all. I could get help, both in my personal life and my business life.
If I only had my energy, intellect, and time to run everything, then the result would be a much smaller business with much smaller goals and a much smaller home. That I could manage. And if that is all that you want or require – you may be good.
But that was not okay for me. I am not interested in an empire, but I did want to be able to manage a home and a business with assistance. And I wanted to do things that required me to get help if I was going to do them – and do them well. I hired an accountant, a housekeeper, and a part-time helper. Later I hired an automation expert, marketing experts, an OBM, two VA’s, a coach, and many others to allow me to scale my business and not have a crazy life.
Creating a team of people to assist me where we are all doing what we do best has been integral to my success. And once you get a taste of asking for, and getting, the right help – it can do wonders for your energy and creativity.
Our clients, also are not enough. Right!?! And that is why they call us to do what they cannot do.
Now that we can put aside the crazy idea that all alone we are enough – and actually go after the truth, what is the truth. The truth is, as I stated earlier, we need help. We all do. We need jobs, we need money, we need food, we need the internet, we need technology, we need people, we need ideas, we need inspiration, we need friendship, we need clients, we need employees. We need. And that is okay! We were made to need.
Recognizing that we need help and assistance is vital to our growth. If you have ever raised a teenager, you know what I mean. They often can think they know it all at the ripe age of 15. And they might, in error, believe that their parents know nothing. And then they get older – and wow, you as their parent keep getting wiser and wiser. Imagine.
Growing and scaling a business is about building a team of people, processes, and technology that is working towards the same goal. Each one of these is not enough, in and of themselves, but together they can be enough to solve the problem or meet the ultimate goal.
As you consider building your team, what does it look like? Who is on your team? What role do they play towards your company success? In episode 58, Jennifer Smith discussed building a board of directors. That is next-level team. Consider building a team to get the day-to-day operations of the business done, but then build a team of people that can support your company strategically. This is exactly why I have legal counsel and a coach, and an accountant. They all are part of my board of directors. I speak with them to assist me.
I also have a mastermind group. These women have been through the last couple of years with me. We each run a business in a different industry than the others. We meet monthly to share our goals, wins, and what we want to be accountable for. Between this group and my coach, I can’t let myself off of the hook – and I need that. So do you, in some form.
In the last podcast episode, I mentioned the importance of defining your Why and your Values. Use these as you build the team of people to work with. While your values may not be identical, they should not be at odds with each other.
Create synergistic relationships, meaning work with your team members to create something better than either of you could alone. This method of relationship-building can be super helpful if you have a team meeting. Allowing everyone to give input so that the meetings are not one-way communication, AKA, you telling them everything. But in fact, they are open communication where each person actively listens and responds. These meetings will be so much more than you can imagine if everyone is bought into the mission and vision of the company and has an active say in how the day-to-day operations are carried out.
Here is the truth: You are not enough. You were created to need and to be in community. Find your community at home and in business.
I support other business owners in the community daily as part of my Designers’ Inner Circle. Businesses are changed, and so are lives. We are not doing business alone but together. I would love to have you join us. Reach out for a Discovery Call by going to Scarletthreadconsulting.com. Let’s work together to build a profitable company structure and team – because profit doesn’t happen by accident.
Key Thoughts:
Who's responsible for the fact that maybe I don't understand a concept? Michele (03:01)
Holding back and doing the minimal wasn't okay for my business. Michele (08:10)
The more we know, the more we let go. We grow older and more mature in our business. Michele (11:25)
Contact Michele:
Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting
Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL
References and Resources:
The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today
Create a Board of Directors that Supports You - Ep 58 with Jennifer Smith